Hernandez missed 1st meeting
Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Bills-Patriots, Chan Gailey
One thing to remember for Sunday’s Bills-Pats season finale is that New England’s high-powered offense didn’t have a key member healthy for the first meeting in Buffalo back in Week 3.
The Patriots were without Aaron Hernandez in that game, who was out with an injury. It was one less passing weapon for the Bills to worry about. Since he’s been back in New England’s lineup Chan Gailey has seen a noticeable difference.
“When he came back they started hitting full stride,” Gailey told Buffalobills.com. “He is a big part of what they do. They’ve got the three-headed monster so to speak right now, but those other guys will make plays if you don’t watch out for them too.”
Gailey is referring to Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski as the other two-thirds of his three-headed monster.
Pats could be without TE
Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler
The New England Patriots have made heavy use of their two young tight ends in the passing game the first two weeks of the season in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. But there’s a good chance they’re down one of those players for their Week 3 matchup with the Bills.
According to Boston Herald reporter Ian Rapoport, Hernandez has a sprained MCL, with a prognosis of 1-2 weeks, meaning he wouldn’t be available for Sunday’s game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. While that would certainly help Buffalo to have one less tight end to worry about, Gronkowski has been a beast the first two weeks.
He’s got 10 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns in New England’s first two ball games, and is the team’s leading scorer. Of course Buffalo’s Scott Chandler isn’t far off with seven catches for 79 yards and three touchdowns.
Hernandez out for Pats
Tags: Aaron Hernandez
Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez has been downgraded from questionable to out for today’s game against the Bills.
Hernandez was dealing with a hip injury all week and was only able to practice on a limited basis Friday. Fellow starters OL Dan Connolly (concussion), DL Mike Wright (concussion) and LB Jermaine Cunningham (calf) were also downgraded to out on Saturday.
DL Brandon Deaderick (shoulder) and Myron Pryor (back) also did not make the trip to Buffalo for today’s game.
It leaves New England with just six defensive linemen for the game including Landon Cohen, who was just signed this week after the team released Louis Leonard.
Hernandez, Branch miss again
Patriots rookie TE Aaron Hernandez missed a second straight day of practice due to a hip injury.
Hernandez had two touchdown catches in last week’s four-point Patriots’ win over Green Bay. He was also New England’s leading receiver in their Week 3 matchup with the Bills with six catches for 65 yards. Add in the absence of veteran WR Deion Branch, who also missed a second straight day of practice and New England’s receiving corps gets thin in a hurry.
“I’m feeling pretty good, pretty good,” said Branch Thursday.
Branch is listed with a knee injury.
Top pass rusher Tully Banta-Cain also missed practice for a second straight day with a groin injury.
Don’t sleep on Pats TEs
Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Chan Gailey, Rob Gronkowski
While Randy Moss and Wes Welker, deservedly get a great deal of the credit in New England’s passing attack, their two rookie tight ends are already making an impact.
Aaron Hernandez is almost like a tall receiver, while Rob Gronkowski is a more physical player that they use underneath and in the red zone.
“The way they can run the deep threat has really helped them a lot,” said Chan Gailey. ”Hernandez I think had the longest play last week (46 yards). He’s really come on as a guy that can get down the field and make plays as he did in college. Both of those guys have been a big plus for their football team.”
Buffalo had their hands full with Jermichael Finley last week. It will bear watching to see how they approach the rookie tight end duo for New England on Sunday.
Tight ends talked with Buffalo
Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Jermaine Gresham, NFL Combine
Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham and Florida TE Aaron Hernandez just finished speaking with the media here at the NFL Combine and both confirmed that they have spoken with the Bills here in Indianapolis.
Gresham and Hernandez are considered among the top tight ends in the draft class. The reason NFL teams are usually interested in interviewing players is if they need a better gauge of their football IQ. Playing in spread attacks, Gresham and Hernandez didn’t have to run a lot of complex routes.
So NFL coaches will want to put them on the board and have them diagram things. Having not played at all last year, the interest in Gresham would be to see if he’s still sharp with football concepts.
Nevertheless with two of the top tight ends talking to Buffalo is interesting. Gresham is unlikely to be available in round two, but Hernandez could be there when the Bills pick 41st.
